grasp
[verb]
Synonyms:
- grip, catch, clasp, clinch, clutch, grab, grapple, hold, lay or take hold of, seize, snatch
- understand, catch on, catch or get the drift of, comprehend, get, realize, see, take in
[noun]
Synonyms:
- grip, clasp, clutches, embrace, hold, possession, tenure
- control, power, reach, scope
- understanding, awareness, comprehension, grip, knowledge, mastery

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Related Words: envisage, fathom, perceive

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English Thesaurus: hold, grip, clutch, clasp, get/take hold of something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. grasp¹ /ɡrɑːsp $ ɡræsp/ verb [transitive]

1. to take and hold something firmly Synonym : grip:
I grasped his arm firmly and led him away.
Alan grasped the handle and pulled it.

2. [not in progressive] to completely understand a fact or an idea, especially a complicated one:
At that time, we did not fully grasp the significance of what had happened.
Some people find the idea of relativity difficult to grasp.
grasp what/how etc
A short opening paragraph enables the reader to quickly grasp what the article is about.
grasp that
Nick had grasped that something was wrong.

3. grasp an opportunity to eagerly and quickly use an opportunity to do something:
She is ready to grasp any opportunity to expand the business.

4. grasp the nettle British English to deal with an unpleasant situation firmly and without delay:
We need to grasp the nettle of prison reform.
grasp at something phrasal verb
to try to hold on to something:
His foot slipped and he grasped at the top of the wall.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. grasp² noun [singular]

1. the way you hold something or your ability to hold it Synonym : grip:
Luke took her arm in a firm grasp and led her through the gate.
He had allowed the ball to slip from his grasp.

2. your ability to understand a complicated idea, situation, or subject Synonym : understanding
grasp of
Her grasp of the issues was impressive.
a good/firm/thorough etc grasp of something
Steve has a good grasp of the European legal system.
grasp on
After two months, his grasp on the subject was improving.

3. your ability to achieve or gain something
within sb’s grasp
An agreement to end the war seemed within their grasp.
beyond sb’s grasp
Many families are finding suitable housing beyond their grasp.

4. literary control or power:
The king was determined not to let Scotland slip from his grasp.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

grasp
noun
I. holding sth
ADJ. firm, strong She felt a firm grasp on her hand.
VERB + GRASP slip from As she jumped forward, the ball slipped from her grasp.
prise sth from, rip sth from, snatch sth from, wrench sth from, wrest sth from She wrenched the bottle from his grasp.
PREP. beyond your ~ The key was on a high shelf, just beyond her grasp.
in your ~ He kept the letter firmly in his grasp.
from sb's ~ The robber tried to free the case from her grasp.
out of sb's ~ She kicked the gun out of his grasp.
within (your) ~ (often figurative) Just when victory seemed within grasp, the referee blew his whistle.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

grasp
II. understanding
ADJ. fine, firm, good, impressive, proper, sound | limited, poor | intellectual The task was beyond the intellectual grasp of some of the students.
intuitive We have no intuitive grasp of the immensity of time.
VERB + GRASP have | get Working with native speakers helped me get a good grasp of the language.
PREP. beyond your ~ These ideas are all beyond his grasp.
within your ~ | ~ of a poor grasp of mathematics

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

grasp
verb
I. take hold of sb/sth suddenly and firmly
ADV. firmly, tightly
PREP. at Her hands were grasping at his coat.
by She grasped him tightly by the wrist.
PHRASES grasp hold of sb/sth She grasped hold of the banister to support herself.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

grasp
II. understand sth
ADV. fully He had not fully grasped the fact that he was the one who would pay for all this.
not really I hadn't really grasped what they were talking about.
quickly | easily, readily a means by which students can more easily grasp the basics of science
VERB + GRASP try to | be unable to, fail to She failed to grasp the significance of these facts.
quick to He was quick to grasp the basic principles.
be difficult to, be hard to Some of these concepts are very difficult to grasp.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

hold to have something in your hand, hands, or arms:
Maria came in holding a letter.
Can I hold the baby?
grip to hold something very tightly and not let it go:
He gripped her arm so she couldn’t walk away.
Jenny gripped the side of the boat to steady herself.
clutch to hold something tightly, especially because you do not want to drop or lose it:
A businessman hurried past, clutching his briefcase.
The little girl clutched onto his hand.
clasp written to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them:
She was clasping a bunch of small summer flowers.
He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
get/take hold of something to take something in your hand or hands and hold it:
I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.
Quickly – try and get hold of that frog!
grasp written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way:
She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
grab to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
He grabbed my bag and ran off with it.
The other man grabbed hold of (=suddenly took hold of ) my arms and threatened me with a knife.
seize /siːz/ written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
hang on (to something) to hold on to something or someone tightly to support yourself:
He hung on to the rail at the back of the motorbike.
Hang on tight!
keep hold of something to continue to hold something:
Greg was struggling to keep hold of the dog.
She tried to take her hand away but he kept hold of it.
a tight/firm hold
Rose had a tight hold of her hand.
tighten your hold
Maria winced as Luke tightened his hold on her fingers.
loosen/relax your hold
Laughing, he loosened his hold until she could pull her arms free.
release your hold (=stop holding something)
As soon as his fingers released their hold, Robyn turned and ran.
catch/grab/seize etc hold of something (=start holding something quickly and firmly)
She grabbed hold of the letter and tore it open.
have hold of something (=be holding something)
Nathan had hold of her hand again.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

knowledge the facts and information that you have learned, and the understanding you have gained:
Our knowledge of other cultures and societies has improved.
scientific knowledge
expertise special knowledge about how to do something, that you get through experience, training, or study:
The technical expertise was provided by a Japanese company.
They need people with medical expertise.
know-how practical knowledge about how to do something:
Business leaders often lack the local know-how to tackle problems in specific countries.
financial know-how
wisdom good sense and judgment, based on knowledge and experience:
the wisdom of the older family members
It’s a matter of common wisdom that newspapers cannot be trusted.
grasp how much you know about a situation or subject, and how well you understand it:
He’s been praised for his grasp of the country’s economic problems.
She has a good grasp of the language.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

understand to know the meaning of something, or the reasons for something:
I understand what you’re saying.
Doctors are beginning to understand what causes the disease.
see especially spoken to understand something, especially the truth about a situation or the reasons for something:
I can see why you don’t like him.
Do you see what I mean?
Oh, I see!
get informal to understand a joke, what someone says, the reasons why something is true etc:
She didn’t seem to get the joke.
Do you get me?
He explained the math homework twice, but I still don’t get it.
I still don’t get why she left.
comprehend formal to understand something, or understand why something is important:
The dream was easy to describe, but difficult to comprehend.
They had failed to comprehend the significance of the problem.
know what somebody means spoken to understand what someone is telling you, or what a situation is like, especially because you have some experience or knowledge about this:
‘It can be really hard to give up smoking.’ ‘I know exactly what you mean.’
We now know what the scientists meant when they warned about global warming.
follow to understand something such as an explanation or story as you hear it, read it etc:
The plot is hard to follow.
His instructions were easy to follow.
grasp to completely understand an idea or a fact, especially a complicated one:
Some of his theories can be rather difficult for the ordinary reader to grasp.
I don’t think Stuart really grasped the point I was making.
fathom /ˈfæðəm/ formal to understand what something means or the reasons for something, after thinking carefully about it:
She looked at him, puzzled, trying to fathom the reasons for his actions.
make sense of something to understand something that is not easy to understand, especially by thinking about it:
People are still trying to make sense of the news.
can’t make head nor tail of something spoken used when something seems impossible to understand:
I can’t make head nor tail of his plays, and I’m not sure that anyone else can either.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲